WORCESTERSHIRE residents basked in temperatures higher than parts of southern Spain and the Middle East this weekend.

Sunday was the hottest day of the year in Worcester so far with temperatures reaching 24.6C (76.3F) by 4pm - almost double the average expected for April.

The top temperature of the year so far in Britain was recorded in Sussex at 3pm to 25.3C (77F). Beirut and Gibraltar managed 19C (66F) and Almeria and Majorca were trailing at 18C (64F).

Worcester News weatherman Paul Damari said the hot days were due to a wedge of warm air moving off the continent, pushing the temperature up by a few degrees.

Mr Damari said: "Looking at the average for this time of the year is should be 12C (54F) so it's quite a lot over. Also, the night time should be around 5C (41F) but last night the minimum recorded in the city centre was 11C (52F). This isn't bad for this time of year."

Temperatures are expected to drop for this week but are still above average.

"It will be colder than the weekend but it is still warmer than expected, except for light showers on Thursday due to a cold front coming in."

He added that with last year being the warmest on record, followed by a mild winter and so far mild spring would be a sign of things to come over the following months.

"We anticipate again that this summer is going to be another hot one. It will be hot but broken by heavy thunderstoms," he added.